Switch-operating mechanism.



R. v. COLLINS. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANSSM.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. l9l5. 7 1,254,122, Patented Jan,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. V. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-9.1915.

Patented Jan. 22, 191&

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

R. V. COLLINS.

' SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION men MAR. 9, m5. 1,254,122. Patented Jan. 22,1918.-

6 $HEETSSHEET 3.

will" R. V. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

. APPUCATION FILED MAR. 9, 1915. 7 1,254,122.; Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R. V. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 19l5.

' Patented Jan. 22,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

qwi/f wmo: I vwewtoz auM $16M, K 94/ came 9 i R. V. COLLINS.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. I915.

Patented Jan. 22, 191&

6 JHEETS SHEET 6.

nnirnn snares rarnrvr cri ics.

ROY VINSON COLLINS, OF WEST NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed. March 9, 1915.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROY VINsoN CoLLINs, of West Newton, in the county ofMiddlesex, and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Switch-Operating Mechanism, and do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

The object of my invention has been to provide a mechanism for andmethod of operating switches whereby the switch of a railroad of anytype, but particularly a trolley railroad, can be thrown, by electricmechanism, under the control of the motorman and without stopping thecar or train, which shall have, among others, the following advantages:

That it shall involve the use only of cheap and'simple contactors on thetrolley wire, and especially of contactors not using any magnet or otherform of electric motor thereon.

T hat it shall permit the electric motor for operating the switch pointto be put in a sealed box in the ground, since it avoids the making ofarcs in the motor box.

That while it shall provide a motor mechanism for operating the switchpoint, it shall also permit the switch to. be thrown by hand, thuspermitting the correcting of an error in throwing the switch, withoutrequiring the backing of the trolley car.

That it shall be so arranged that the motor shall pick up its full loadonly in successive portions, thus permitting the use of a lighter motorthan would be possible otherwise.

And to such ends my invention consists in the mechanism for and methodof operating switches hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing anapparatus embodying my invention. with parts in normal position, thatis, with the motor at rest and the parts ready to be operated by anapproaching car;

- Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, show ing a trolley passing underthe first and second contactors with the motor current off, and inengagement with the second contactor;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a trolley passing under thethird contactor, wh h aus th p ration of the throw-0E Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Serial No. 13,145.

device by which the circuit to the motor is broken and the parts causedto be restored to normal position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a trolley passing under thefirst contactor with the motor current on and the current flowingthrough the trolley, owing to the completion of the circuit, due to theposition of the motormans controller;

v Fig. 5 is a plan view of the motor and switch operating parts;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5; i

Fig. 7 is asection on line 77 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of thearrows; and

Fig. 8 isa section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

While I have illustrated my invention by the best embodiment thereofknown to me, such embodiment is to be regarded as typical only of manypossible embodiments and uses, and my invention is not to be restrictedthereto.

In general, my apparatus consists of a first and second contactorpreferably located on the trolley wire or other car motor currentconductor with which the trolley or other collector of the motor-car isto come in contact, to cause the switchpoint to be thrown to properposition, if not already in proper position. The .position to which theswitchpoint is thrown is determined by whether or not the motor currenton the car is open or closed. Such contactors are located a sufficientdistance ahead of the switch so that, although the car may be movingrapidly, the mechan sm will have time to throw the switch before the carreaches it and yet will not have to operate so quickly as to cause theswitch to splash any water that may cover its parts, thus causing injury to the clothing of a passer-by.

A third contactor is located on the trolley wire or other conductor at apoint so lo cated with respect to the switch point that the trolleywheel will not pass under such contactor until the last wheel of the caris on the switchpoint, thus preventing the throwing of the switchpointafter the front wheels have passed it and before the rear wheels havereached it.

I mount upon the trolley wire a first contactor comprising an insulatedsection 1 of conductive material and have shown it diagrammatically assupported by asection of non-conducting material 1' mounted upon thetrolley wire Parts 1" and 1 are mounted upon the trolley wire butinsulated from the part 1, the said parts 1 and 1 serving, respectively,gradually to remove the trolley wheel from the trolley wire and depressit to the level oi the part 1, and again to take 7 contactor consistingof a frame 2 supported on the trolley wire and having a lever 2 pivotedthereto on a pin 2". Said lever has ears 2 between which a movablecontactor 2 is pivoted on a fulcrum-pin 2. The frame carries astationary contact 2 mounted on an insulating block 2 The movablecontact has a shoulder 2 which normally rests on a bearing plate 2 onthe frame. W'hen, however. the lever 2 is raised by the trolley wheel,the shoulder 2 is raised on the bearing plate 2*, and the movablecontact 2 is allowed to fall on the stationary contact 2 The frame andlever are in electrical connection with the trolley wire, so that thiaction conductsthe trolley current to the stationary contact 2 Thestationary contact 2 is connected by a wire 3 with a stationary contact4, to be later described.

, In the drawings are shown diagrammaticallytwo movable contact deviceswhich, in the illustrated embodiment, are represented as levers, one orthe other of which is thrown into operative position according as thetrolley passes under the insulated section 1 of the first contactor, andthe lever 2 of the secondcontactor, with the motormans controller in theposition, respect1vely, to permit or not to permit the flow of currentthrough the trolley. 'These contact levers are adapted to make operativeconnections with stationary contacts of which, in the present instance,there is a vertical row numbered from top'to bottom respectively, 5-

. are also the before-mentioned contact 4 and V which i adapted to beattracted by a relay acontact 15 which are adapted to be engaged bycontact lever 16 in its retracted position. There are also stationarycontacts 17 and 18 which are adapted to be engaged by thercontact lever19in its retracted position; The lever 16 carries an armature 20 thewiring connected with the various sta- V tionary contacts operated bythe levers 16 and 19 in advance of the description of the operatlon ofthe device, as such wiring can be understood with less effort inconnection with the description of said operation.

Stationary contacts 23 and 24: also are provided which are adapted to beconnected by a contact device, in the present instance shown as in theform of a lever 25, said lever having an. armature 26 which, whenattracted by relay magnet 27, removes the lever 25' from the contacts 23and 24;, this, as later described, interrupting current through therelay 21 or 23 (whichever one may be in operation), permitting the leverV 16 (or 19) then in use to fall back to normal position. The relay 2?is controlledby a third cont-actor which is in all respects similar tothe second contactor above described, and which has a lever 28corresponding to the lever 2 ofthe second contactor, a stationaryinsulated contact 28 corresponding to the contact 2 and a movablecontact 28 corresponding to the movable contact 2 The connections of thethird contactor will be described later.

The switchpoint is moved by mechanism,

to be later described, operated by a motor having an armature 30 whosecommutator has a brush 31 connected by a wire 82 with the stationarycontact 6, and whose commutater also has a brush 33 connected by a wire34 with the stationary contact 8. The field coils 35 are connected onthe one side by a wire 36 with contact 7, and on the other side with theground 37. Y v

The motor and switchpoint-operating parts are preferably mounted in abox made water-tight by a mercury seal, said box being preferably on alevel not substantially higher than said switch; The motor shaft carriesa. wheel 38 engaging a worm-rack 39o'n a bar 40, the latter beingmounted in lib any desired manner, The said bar carries a pin 11 whichis illustrated as provided with an anti friction wheel 42 that isadapted to engage anarm d3 on a shaft 44. The shaft 44 transmits motionto the switchpoint by means to be later described and the arm 43.

preferablyis connected with the shaft 44:

, so as to permit a movement of the arm to some extent before anymovement of the shaft takes place. In other words, there is lost motionconnection between the arm and the shaft. This connection is, in thepresent instance, provided by passing a bar 45 through the shaft, thebar occupying slots 46 in the arm, which slots are wider in the plane ofmotion of the arm than the bar 45, thus permitting the lost motion.Cotter pins 47 in the ends of the bar maintain it in place.

The shaft 44 (which is mounted in stationary bearings) carries on itsupper end an arm 48 which is to transmit motion to the switchpoint. Thearm 48 has a hole or 'slot in which is received a pin 49 carried by asleeve 50, the latter being mounted'to slide on sleeves 51 and 52 whichare threaded upon a rod 53 that is pivoted to a bar 54 attached to theswitchpoint.

The sleeves 5]. and 52 have shoulders 51 and 52 respectively which areadapted to be struck by the opposite ends of the sleeve to shift the rod53 and, by means of it, the switchpoint. The sleeves 51 and 52 areadjustable on the rod 53 by reason of their threaded engagementtherewith and they are locked in position as by locknuts 55 and 56respectively.

At this point the mechanical operation of the motor and of the partstransmitting motion therefrom to the switchpoint will be described, inorder that the description of the.

apparatus as a whole may be made more concise when that is given. Whenthe motor circuit is completed, the motor revolves, carwith it the worm38. The first tooth of the rack is pressed against the wormwheel by theaction of an arm 57 carried by a counter-weight 58 that is mounted on astationary pivot, said arm 57 engaging a shoulder 59 on the rack. Thisyielding pressure, due to the counter-weight, holds the said first toothagainst the side of the worm ready to be engaged by the worm uponitsnext turn around and the successive teeth of the rack are then engagedby the wormwheel until the entire rack has passed by the worm-wheel,when the latter is free to turn in a blank space beyond the last toothof the rack. The arm 57 now being engaged by a shoulder 60 on the rack,the travel of the rack having caused the said shoulder to swing the arm57 to the opposite side of its pivot from that side which it occupiedwhen it was engaged by the shoulder 59, the one counter-weighted arm nowserves to press the last tooth of the rack yieldingly against theworm-wheel in a position so that. when the motor is reversed, the saidlast tooth will be engaged by the worm and the rack caused to travelpast the worm-wheel in the opposite direction. i Vhen the rack moves tothe left, the roller 42 engages the arm 43 and swings it to the left,causing it to turn the shaft 44 andthe arm 48, the latter moving thesleeve 50 and causing it to strike against the shoulder 52 and swing theswitchpoint to the left.

I desire that between the operations of the motor-that is, when the rackis in either extreme position, the switchpoint shall be disconnectedfrom the operating mechanism, so that it can be thrown by hand ifdesired, thus making it unnecessary for the trolley car to back up andoperate the first or second contactor again in case the motorman shouldpass under the contactors with his controller in the wrong position and,hence, throw the switchpoint in the wrong direction. For this purpose, Icause the roller 42 to travel far enough or, conversely, the arm 43 tobe short enough, so that when the rack has traveled to its extreme leftposition the roller 42 has passed beyond the end of the arm 43, thuseffecting a mechanical disconnection of the switchpoint, for the purposeof leaving the switchpoint free to be moved bv hand. In order that theroller 42 may engage the lever 43 when the rack begins to travel to theright, I provide means to swing the lever 43 to the right after itsrelease from the roller 42, so that its end will stand in the path oftravel of the said roller. In the present embodiment such means consistof a counter-weight 61 carrying an arm 62 which plays between shoulders63 and 64 on the arm 43. When the lever 43 is forced to the left by thetravel of the roller 42, its shoulder 63 is brought in contact with thearm 62 and the said arm is moved to the left against the pull of thecounter-weight. As soon as the lever 43 is disengaged from the roller42, the counterweight causes the arm (32 to throw the said lever to theright, when it will be in position to be engaged by the roller 42 uponits return. travel; Similarly, when the roller 42 approaches itsright-hand extreme position, itagain passes beyond the end of the arm 43and the latter is released from the roller and is caused to swing to theleft by the action of the arm 62 against the shoulder 64, so as to be inposition to be again engaged by the roller 42 upon its return stroke.

The swinging of the arm 43 in the manner above described places it inposition to be engaged by roller 42 and swung to rotate shaft 44 and arm48. The swinging of the arm 48 reciprocates the sleeve 50 and causes it,by striking against the shoulders 51 or 52, to reciprocate the partsconnected with theswitchpoint. I desire to provide lost motion betweenthe arm 48 and the switchpoint, so that the motor will not have to movethe switchpoint until after it has started to move the shaft 44 and arm48. thus permitting the motor to get substantially all the parts, butthe switch parts, into motion before it has to take up the load of theswitchpoint. and its immediate parts. The

adjustability of the shoulders 51 and 52 en- 'ables me to do this, andyet to move the of the apparatus, and in doing so the connection andoperation of the various wires will be clear. 7

As before stated, the manner in which the motorman controls the switchto determine whether his car shall take the curve or go straight aheadisto have the motor-current on or oif, in the one instance, or the other,as he passes the first and second 'contactors.

1n the present instance, it may be assumed that the apparatus is'soconstructed that if the niotorman passes under thefirst andsecondcontactors with the current on, the switch will-be set for thecurve, if it is not already so set, and if he passes under suchco'ntactors with the current off, the switch will be set for thestraight track, if it is not already so set.

Assuming, first, that the motorman wishes to set the switch for thestraight track: He

will approach the first contactor with the current off in the motors ofthe car, and as he trolley wheel passes on to the insulated section 1 ofsuch contactor, there will be no motor current being drawn through thecar, but when the trolley wheel comes in contact with the pivoted lever2 (Fig. the said lever will be moved upward by reason of the upwardpressure ofthetrolley wheel and a circuit will be completed from themoving contact 2 (which is electrically a part of atrolley wire),through stationary contact 2, along wire 3 to contact 1, through contactlever 16 to contact 15, thence along wire 65,

through relay 23, wire 66, and resistance 67 to the ground 68. This willcause relay 23 to be energized and to lift armature 22 and move lever 19into engagement with the vertical row of contacts. This action willcomplete a circuit through the said relay 23 for holding the lever 19 inengagement with the vertical row of contacts, after the trolley wheelhas passed from under the lever 2 and consequently, after the movablecontact I 2 has ceased to touch the stationary contact 2 The saidcircuit (which I may ter a maintaining circuit) 18 as follows;

It extends from the trolley wire, through fuse 69 (at the right, Fig.2), along wire to contact 23*, and thence through lever 25 to contact24, and by wire 71 to contact 11,

through lever 19 to contact 12, by wire 72, through relay 23, along wire66, through resistance '67, and to the ground 68. lVhile the lever 19 isin engagement with the vertical row of contacts, a circuit will becompleted through the switch operating motor, as follows:

From the trolley wire through the fuse 69, wire 73, resistance 74, wire83, contact 5, lever 19, contact 6,-wire 32, through the armature 30 ofthe'motor and bywire 34: to the contact 8, through the lever 19 to thecontact 7, and thence by wire 86 through the fields 35 of the motor andto. the ground 37. This will cause the motor to rotate in the directionfor throwing the switch for the straight track, and after the switch hasbeen so thrown the motor willcontinue to revolve, although the lasttooth of the'r'ack having passed beyond the worm, the switchpoint willbe free to. be thrown by hand if the motorman has made a mistake. Whenthe through the said lever and movable contact to the stationarycontact, and thence along wire 75,,through relay 27, by wire 76, throughresistance 67, to the ground 68. This will cause relay 27 to attractarmature 26 and throw lever 25 to the left out of engagement withcontacts 23* and 2%, thus opening the before-mentioned maintainingcircuit and permitting the lever 19 to fall back to right-hand positionas bv the action of gravity on the armature 22. This will interrupt thecircuit to the motor, part of which was formed by thelever 19, thuscausing the motor to stop, and when the trolley wheel passes beyond thesaid third corn 7 tactor, its lever 28 will dro se )aratin the p: l a

movable contact 28 from the stationary contact 28 thus breaking thecircuit which it downward, throwing the lever 25 into its normalposition, in which it is in engagement with the contacts 23 and 24;.

Thus the switch will have been thrown so as to send the car to thestraight track, and then all the parts will have been restored to thenormal position shown in Fig. l. V

Assuming now that the motorman wishes to set the switch for the curve,and that the switchpoint vis set either for the straight track or forthe curve: He will approach the first contactor with'thecurrenton in themotors of the car, (Fig. 1) and as the trolley wheel passes under theinsulated; section 1 (the latter being insulated from the trolley wire)and the trolley wheel being held by said-insulated section out ofcontact with the trolley wire, the current, which will be fed throughthe motors'of the car, will come from the trolley wire, through fuse 69,wire 70, contact 23, lever 25, contact 2a, wire 71, wire 77, contact 17,lever 19,'contact l8, wire ZS, contact 10, wire 79, relay 21, wire 80,wire 81, to the insulated section 1, and. thence through the trolleyWheel, trolley pole, car, motors, track, rails, and to ground. This willcause relay magnet 21 to attract armature 20 and to raise the latter andthrow the lever 16 into engagement with the vertical row of contacts.Relay magnet 21 is so designed as to require a larger current to attractarmature 20 than will be furnished by a car passing under the firstcontactor with its curr nt ff. In winter time, for example, the heatersand lights in a car might draw approximately 18 amperes, and in suchcase the current required to energize relay magnet 21 must besufficiently in excess of 18 amperes to prevent the energizing of saidrelay magnet when the car passes under the first contactor with itscurrent off. Lever 16 will be held in contact with the vertical row ofcontacts by what may be termed a maintaining current, the purpose of themaintaining current being to hold the lever 16 in vertical positionafter the trolley wheel has passed from under the insulated section 1and while the trolley wheel is passing to engagement with the thirdcontactor. The said maintaining circuit is from the trolley wire,through the fuse 69, wire 70, contact 23 lever 25, contact 2-1, wire 71,contact 11, lever 16, contact 10, wire 79, relay magnet 21, wires 80 and82', to contact 13, lever 16, contact 14, wire 82, wire 66, resistance67, to ground (58.

While the lever 16 is thus being held in engagement with the verticalrow of contacts a circuit is completed to the switch operating motor,sending the current in the opposite direction through the armature ofthe motor from that previously described, thus causing the motor torotate in the opposite direction. The said Circuit is as follows:

From the trolley wire, through the fuse 69, wire 73, resistance 71',wire 83, wire 84,- con.- tact 9, lever 16, contact 8, wire 3-1, armature30, wire 32, contact 6, lever 16, contact 7, wire 36. fields 35 of themotor, and to ground 37. This will operate the motor and throw theswitch for the curve, if the switch is not already so thrown. The motorwill continue to revolve, after it has thrown the switch, until thetrolley wheel reaches the third contactor, when the circuit will becompleted through the relay magnet 27 to attract the arn'iature 26 anddisengage the lever 25 from the contacts 23 and 24, as described in thefirst instance, interrupting the maintaining circuit to relay 21, andallowing the lever 16 to fall by gravity to its normal retractedposition, the movement of the lever 16 opening the circuit in the motorand causing the motor to cease to revolve. Thus all the levers 16, 17,and 25 will have been restored to normal position, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that in the first instance, when the motorman passesunder the insulated section 1, with the motor current off, no currentflows through the relay apparatus until the trolley wheel raises thelever 2 of the second contactor, when the current flows through therelay apparatus from the trolley wire toward the right, so to speak. Ifa following car should pass under insulated section 1 with its currenton, before the preceding car passed the third contactor and restored theparts to normal position, no effect would be produced, as lever 19 is invertical position thereby preventing the energizing of relay 21, sincethe circuit to said relay is broken at contacts 1'? and 18. When themotorman passes under the insulated section 1 with the motor current onand the parts in normal position, the current flows from the trolleywire, through the relay apparatus to the left, so to speak, and thencethrough the insulated section and the car to the ground. this action,however, throws the lever 16 to vertical position and disengages it fromthe contacts 1 and 15, it interrupts the circuit which would otherwisehave been completed through contacts s and 15 to relay 23 when thetrolley wheel passed under the lever 2 so that the raising of the saidlever by the trolley wheel produces no electrical effect. The samenon-ac tion will result if a following car passes under the secondcontactor before the preceding car passes under the third contactor andreturns the parts to normal position. Thus, when the trolley wheelpasses under the first and second contactors with the motor current on,the first contactor acts and the second is rendered inoperative. Whenthe trolley wheel passes under the first and second contactors, with themotor current off, the first contactor is rendered inoperative and thesecond operative. The action is the same if a following car passes underthe first or second contactor before the preceding car passes under thethird contactor and returns the parts to normal position. In otherwords, in the present embodiment, each lever when in normal positionforms part of the circuit necessary to move the other lever therebyforming what may be termed an interlocking action. When one lever hasbeen moved, therefore, the other lever cannot be moved until the firstlever returns to normal position, which occurs only when the car passesunder the third contactor.

I claim 1. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination ofa switch, a motor for throwing the same, a device for controllingcurrent to operate said motor in one direction, a device for controllingcurrent to operate said motor in the opposite direction, a currentconductor for the car motor current, and separate contactors connectedwith said conductor for operating said devices.

2. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, a device for controllingcurrentto operate said motor in one direction, a device for controllingcurrent to operate said'motor in the opposite direction, a currentconductor for the car motor current, and separate contactors connectedwith said conductor for operating said devices, one of said contactorsbeing operable by a conductive contact of a trolley, the other of saiddevices being operable by mechanical pressure of a trolley.

3. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, a device for controlling currentto operate said motor in one direction, a device for controlling currentto operate said motor in the opposite direction, a current conductor forthe car motor current, and separate contactors connectedwith saidconductor for operating said devices, one of said contactors beingoperable by a conductive contact of a trolley, the other of said devicesbeing operable by mechanical pressure of a trolley, said devices beinglo cated in sequence along said conductor.

4. In an electric switch operating 1nechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, a device for controlling currentto operate said motor in one direction, a device for controlling currentto operate said motor in the opposite direction, a current conductor forthe car motor current, and separate contactors connected with saidconductor for operating said devices, one of said contactors beingoperable by a conductive contact of a trolley, the other of saidcontactors being operable by mechanical pressure of a trolley, thecircuit of each of said contactors including in it a part of the motorcontrolling device of the other contactor when said device is at rest.

5. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, two motor controlling devices,one for operating the motor in one direction and the other for operatingthe motor in the opposite direction, contactors for said devices mountedon the car motor current conductor, one of said contactors comprising asection insulated from said conductor, the other of said contactors coiprising a device operable by mechanical pressure, a trolley, means foroperating each of said motor controlling devices, each of said meansbeing in circuit with one of said contactors and with the car motorcurrent conductor.

6. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, two motor controlling devices,one for operating the motor in one direction and the otherfor operatingthe motor inthe opposite direction, contac tors for said devices mountedon the car nism, the combination of a switch, a motorfor throwing thesame, controlling devices for operatmg said motor in oppositedirectrons, means for operating said motor controlling device, acontactor in circuit with, one of sa1d means and the car motor cur--rent conductor, said contactor comprising a section mounted upon butinsulated from said motor'current conductor, a contactor 1n c1rcu1t withthe other of said means and with said motor current conductor, said lastnamed contactor comprising a device operable by the pressure of atrolley.

8. in an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, motor controlling devices foroperating said motor in opposite directions, means for operating saidmotor,

controlling devices, a contactor in circuit with one of said means andthe car motor current conductor, said contactor comprising a sectionmounted upon but insulated from said motor current conductor, acontactor in circuit with the other of said means and with the motorcurrent conductor,said

contactor comprising a device operable by the pressure of a trolley, oneof said con-' tactors being in advanceof the other of. said contactorsrelative to the movement of the trolley. V

9. In an electric switch operating mecha nism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same,motor controlling devices foroperating said motor in opposite directions, means for operating saidmotor cont-rolling devices, a contactor in circuit with one of saidmeans and the car motor current conductor, said, contactor comprismg asection mounted upon but insulated from said motor current conductor, acontac- V tor in circuit with theother of said means and with the motorcurrent conductor, said contactor comprising a device operable by thepressure of a trolley, said first I11Il-- tioned contactor being inadvance of said last mentioned contactor relative to the movement of thetrolley.

v 10. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, motor controlling de vices foroperating said motor in opposite directions, means for operatlng saidmotor controlling devices, a contactor in circuit with one of said meansand the car motor current conductor, said contactor comprising a sectionmounted upon but insulated from said motor current conductor, acontactor in circuit with the other of said means and with the motorcurrent conductor, said contactor comprising a device operable by thepressure of a trolley, one of said contactors being in advance of theother of said contactors relative to the movement of the trol: ley, thecircuit of each of said contactors comprising the motor controllingdevice of the other contactor when in a retracted position.

11. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, motor controlling devices foroperating said motor in opposite directions, means for operating saidmotor controlling devices, contactor in circuit with one of said meansand the car motor current conductor, said contactor comprising a sectionmounted upon but insulated from said motor current conductor, acontactor in circuit with the other of said means and with the motorcurrent conductor, said contactor comprising a device operable by thepressure of a trolley, one of said contactors being in advance of theother of said contactors relative to the movement of the trolley, and amaintaining circuit for each of said motor controlling devices, saidcircuit comprising conductors leading from the motor conductor to theground, comprising the corresponding motor controlling device and alsocomprising another contact device, means for operating said lastmentioned contact device, and a third contactor on the motor currentconductor for operating said last mentioned means.

12. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwin the same, motor controlling devices foroperating said motor in opposite directions, means ior operating saidmotor controlling devices, a contactor in circuit with one of said meansand the car motor current conductor, said contactor comprising a sectionmounted upon but insulated from said motor current conductor, aco-ntactor in circuit with the other of said means and with the motorcurrent conductor, said contactor comprising a device operable by thepressure of a trolley, one of said contactors being in advance of theother of said contactors relative to the movement of the trolle and amaintaining circuit for each of said motor controlling devices, saidcircuit comprising conductors loading from the motor conductor to theground, comprising the corresponding motor controlling device and alsocomprising another contact device, means for operating said lastmentioned contact device, and a third contactor on the motor currentconductor for operating said last mentioned means, said third contactorcomprising an electric switch adapted to be operated by pressure of thetrolley.

13. In an electric switch operating mech anism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, motor controlling devices foroperating said motor in opposite directions, means for operating saidmotor controlling devices, a contactor in circuit with one of said meansand the car motor current conductor, said contactor comprising a sectionmounted upon but insulated from said motor current conductor, acontactor in motor current conductor for operating said last mentionedmeans, said third contactor comprising an electric switch adapted to beoperated by pressure of the trolley, said means for operating said lastmentioned device comprising a magnet adapted to dis engage said third.contact device, and a connection from said third contactor through saidmagnet to ground.

14. In an. electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of atrack switch, a motor for throwing said switch, means to operate saidmotor in one direction comprising a first lever adapted to be moved toclose a circuit to said motor, means to operate said motor in theopposite direction comprising a second lever adapted to be moved toclose a circuit to said motor, and means to move each lever comprising acircuit closed through the other lever when said other lever is innormal position and opened when said other lever is in position to closea circuit to said motor.

15. In an electric switch-operating mechanism, the combination of atrack switch, a motor for throwing said switch, means to operate saidmotor in either direction comprising two sets of contacts normallyclosed, and means comprising contact levers to open one of said sets ofcontacts when the motor is rotated in one direction and to open theother of said sets of contacts when the motor is rotated in the oppositedirection.

16. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of atrack switch, a motor for throwing the same, means for operating saidmotor and connections between said motor and said switch comprising a 8mem rack and a lever actuated thereby, such that after the motor hasthrown the switch, said connections shall be disconnected, whereby theswitch may be thrown by hand.

17. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, and mechanism connecting saidmotor with said switch comprising a rack and a lever actuated thereby,said motor being disconnected from said mechanism at each end of itsthrow.

18. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, and mechanism connecting saidmotor with said switch, said mechanism having a lost-motion connectionwith said switch comprising a sleeve slidable longitudinally beforeengagement.

19. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motorfor throwing the same, and mechanism connecting saidmotor with said switch, said motor'being disconnected from saidmechanism at each end of its throw, said mechanism comprising two partshaving lost-moe tion between them.

20. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, and mechanism connecting saidmotor with said switch, said motor being disconnected from saidmechanism at each end of its throw, and said mechanism having a lostmotion onnection with said switch.

21. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, and mechanism connecting saidmotor with said switch, said motor being disconnected'trom saidmechanism at each end of its throw, said mecha nism having a lost-motionconnection with said switch, and said mechanism comprising two partshaving a lost-motion connection between them.

22. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of aswitch, a motor for throwing the same, and mechanism connecting saidmotor with said switch, said motor being disconnected from saidmechanism at each end of its throw, said parts being so constructed thatthe load between the motor and the switch shall be picked up by themotor in successive portions. I

23. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of atrack switch, a motor for throwing the same, and connections comprisinga worm driven by the motor and a rack engaged by said worm, said rackbeing permitted to travel far enough to pass out of engagement with saidworm at each end, and means yieldingly holding the respective end teethof said rack against said worm. I

24. In an electric switch operatingmechanism, the combination of a trackswitch, a motor for throwing the same, and connections comprising a wormdriven by the motor and a rack engaged by said worm, said rack beingpermitted to travel far enough to pass out of engagement with said Wormat each end, and means yieldingly holding the respective end teeth ofsaid rack against said worm, said means comprising a weighted leverhaving an arm adapted to engage shoulders on said rack.

25. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of atrack switch, a motor for throwing the same, a part carry ing a pin,adapted to be reciprocated by said motor an oscillating .arm connectedwith the switch and adapted to be engaged by said pin, the relativelength of said arm and travel of said pin being such that said pinpasses out or engagement with said arm at each end oi its stroke, andmeans for throwing said arm back in the path of said pin.

26. In an electric switch operating mechanism, the combination of atrack switch, a motor for throwing the same, a partrcarrying a pin,adapted to be reciprocated by said motor, an oscillating arm connectedwith theswitch and adapted to be engaged by said pin, the relativelength of said arm and travel of said pin being such that said pinpasses out of engagement with said arm at each end of its stroke, andmeans for throwing said arm back in the path of said pin,

7 and means comprising shoulders carried by ROY VINSON COLLINS.

Witnesses V. G. LLOYD, J. F REUDENVOLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

